Английский язык. Методические указания. Иванова С.Г. - 18 стр.

      4 Unit 4 Political system of the USA

      4.1 Read and translate the text

                             Political system of the USA.

      The United States of America is a parliamentary republic. The people rule the
country through the representatives they elect. Today any citizen who is at least 18
years old can vote. The Constitution of the USA was written in 1787. It is the basis
for its laws.
      The United States has a federalist system. There are fifty states in the USA.
Each state has its own government and there is a federal or national government.
Each state has its own constitution and can collect taxes. But only the national gov-
ernment can print money.
      The national government is divided into three branches. They are the legislative
branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch.
      The legislative branch is represented by the US Congress. The US Congress
consists of two parts. They are the House of Representatives and the Senate. The
congress's main function is to make laws. There are 100 senators (two from each
state) and 435 representatives. The number of the representatives from each state
depends on the size of the state's population.
      Senators are chosen for six years. But one-third is re-elected or retired every two
years.
      The executive branch is headed by the President and his Administration. The
president of the USA is the head of the country. The executive branch administers
the laws. The executive branch consists of departments and agencies. The US
President is elected for a 4-year term. The US President commands the armed forces,
conducts foreign affairs, recommends laws to the Congress.
      The judicial branch is headed by the US Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court
has nine members. They are Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices. They are
appointed for life. The judicial branch interprets the laws and makes sure that new
laws are in keeping with the Constitution.
      Each branch has certain controls over other branches. The US Congress makes
laws, but the President can veto a law, and the Supreme Court can decide that the law
is unconstitutional.
      There are two main political parties in the USA. They are the Democtatic Party
and the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is symbolized by a "donkey." The
Republican Party is symbolized by an "elephant." There are no clear differences
between these parties. The Republicans are more conservative. They have more
support among the upper classes. The Democrats are more liberal. They have more
support among the working class and the poor.




18